Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

Course Overview

Over the past two decades the use of simulation to train healthcare providers has progressed rapidly in terms of both the technology and the educational techniques used.

However, there has been a lack of education and training in how this equipment can be used to educate healthcare practitioners or incorporated into existing educational programmes. The main goal of the modules in the Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety is to prepare the student to run a simulation centre and use simulation for research, improving patient safety, testing equipment and processes, and integrating simulation into institutional healthcare training, education and delivery systems.

Course Outline

The course is delivered as much as possible through distance learning online. This delivery method allows the student to study at a time that is convenient to them, no matter where they live. The modules are delivered using a combination of multi-media presentations, online discussion boards, and online tutorials. There will also be a need to attend our 4 days sim immersion interactive workshops which give the learner hands on experience and training in high fidelity simulation, task trainers, standardized patients, scenario generation, creation of virtual patient scenarios for e-learning and serious game design. They take place in the simulation centre located at the Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation at Galway University Hospital.

The course will be delivered in six sequential modules during the academic year.

Module 1. An introduction to simulation and training in healthcare

Module 2. Simulation with manikin and task based trainers

Module 3. Standardised patients, virtual patients, and hybrid simulation

Module 4. Human factors and patient safety in simulation

Module 5. Uses of medical and healthcare simulation beyond education

Module 6. Running an effective simulation-based education programme

The course will be assessed by:

• Student participation and reflection on weekly discussion board activities related to the materials presented during the week of instruction.
• The completion of e-tivities, and one end of module assignment for each module.
• Participation, and reflection on, simulation-based teaching activities.
• Demonstration of competency in delivering simulation-based education.

Diploma Cost (2022): €5,500 for a student from the EEA and €9,000 for a student from non-EEA

Career Opportunities

In the last decade there have been large changes in: undergraduate healthcare education, postgraduate healthcare education, delivery of healthcare, and the working environment.

These changes have led to a large investment in simulation centres nationally and internationally. The Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety will provide the student with the expertise required to lead a simulation centre/programme.